Woolly Hugs. Photos of the finished Blanket for CatThiefKeith's family and a message from her DH now on this original thread. TITLE EDITED BY MNHQ

[KnottyAndPistey]

Just devastating. Like many we just couldn’t take it in that CatThiefKeith had died so suddenly from the bastard illness meningitis. Utterly shocking. Words really do fail, we are just so very sorry life has been so cruel to her, her DH, young daughter, their families and friends. We are so pleased to say that her DH has accepted our offer of a Woolly Hug, and we hope that he and their DD will feel our love and support and that the blanket may give whatever comfort it can to them. There is a thread here if you would like to post condolences She brought a smile to so many faces with her stories of her mad life, Mumsnet is a sadder place without her here.

We want to make it a real tribute and celebration of CTK, will you join us?

We shall need crocheters, knitters and donors. If you would like to donate wool or funds, we can match you up. If you would like to join in but need donated wool, we can help there too. Please message with your offer of help.

Our palette for CTK is quite specific, so please do read carefully

• Red, her DH has asked for it to be predominantly red, and we will be using these 2 for consistency one of these please, Drops Merino Extra Fine 11 Red, or Jenny Watson Pure Merino DK WM6 ‘Ruby’ please. *Turquoise and lighter blues *Cream, one of the following - Debbie Bliss Rialto DK 02 ecru, Jenny Watson Pure Merino DK WM4 cream, or Drops Merino 01 off white *Apple, pistachio and lime greens
• Orange - one of these please, Sublime Extra Fine Merino Wool DK - Pumpkin (373) orDebbie Bliss Rialto DK - Tangerine (56) or Debbie Bliss Rialto DK - Burnt Orange (43) *Coral - Debbie Bliss Rialto DK 55 only please *Lighter silver Just for embellishments please - Jenny Watson Pure Merino DK WM7 Taupe -

Ideas and suggestions for squares.
Her DH has asked for any camper van motifs or designs and then ideas to come from her MN friends. Now different folk knew her in different ways, whether it was debating the existence of goldfish in funfairs or taking dogs on trains, many many stories were shared, and we would like to reflect these, so please, if you have an idea that you would like to share, please do, or post on the thread and we will try and get someone crafting it, but what we ask is that you send us a note we can pass on with the blanket to explain your ideas, help create a memory blanket for her DD. We hope that makes sense. xxx

Important - The Yarn we are Using….
Artesano Superwash Merino DK
Debbie Bliss Rialto DK
Drops Merino Extra Fine DK
Jenny Watson Pure Merino DK
Katia Merino 100% DK
Sublime Extra Fine Merino Wool DK
Patons Merino Extrafine DK

Just from the brands listed please because we know they combine for wash and wear. If you still have any of our wools that have been discontinued - Rowan Cashsoft DK, Debbie Bliss Cashmerino DK or James C. Brett Pure Merino DK in your stash, please do use them. Our listed yarns are all easily available online - Try Wool Warehouse, Wise Badger, Laughing Hens

Squares to be six inches, using 4mm needles or hook, no blocking of squares and please knot off sturdily when changing colours or finishing, leave a good end and use a needle to sew in the peskies.

There is support for buying colours on our website, here. Previous blankets can be seen on our website All crafting abilities genuinely_ welcome, squares made by beginner or expert are equally welcomed. It really is the love and thought that counts.

Here is my humble offering after thread where CTK was locked out by her sister when she was checking on her dd in the tent in the garden. Sorry the picture is sideways. I'll do a couple of plain squares too, but then the remainder wool will be up for grabs. Hopefully it will go to a much more skilled crafter

Hi, I have sent my address through, sorry for the delay, apparently I turned off notifications! Looking forward to getting started

That's amazing elephant.

So far I have done these. 2 6" squares and a 12". I just need to make the appliqué for them. Little cats and something else, I'm open to suggestions!

I wimped out and asked K&P if there was anything they would like me to do , and they said butterfly .
So here is #1

Thanks Glen but I'm not so sure. Book did you have to post your photo quite so close to mine! . I have looked on the FB page but can't find out about the back of the squares, are the blankets one-sided or should the squares be reversible?

Thanks, K&P.

book, that's the most utterly pretty butterfly!

I am in awe of you all . Boats and butterflies , cats and camper vans , tents and well, everything . All made with such love and care . Amazing. Alas , I can but donate , but I really wish I had your talents !

Ha ha! Dcs have been asking me what I have been knitting and I have replied 'a tent'. DS questioned about whether I would need to finish doing it in the garden and DD questioned about whether it would be waterproof . They have now got the whole idea about 'Woolly Hugs' and I have explained to them about the charity and CTK. Dd thinks it is a brilliant idea and my next square will indeed be plain as Dd has done a few rows so far, she is learning to knit off the back of this. She will applique something on, her sewing skills are a bit more advanced. Woolly Hugs keeps people smiling.

• evening. Just finished #2 , but I think I may reposition the butterflies. Why do they move from where you put them when you sew them on ? glen - how quick are you ! elephant that is a great design and square , don't be daft I have only been making squares for these blankets for the last year, but haven't even considered whether they need to be reversible. I usually do a picture one, so the loops on the back don't bear too much investigation ..... My next will be an intarsia one, but I will do the chart tomorrow, when my brain is back in gear ( hah!)

Blankets have a right and wrong side, don't worry. Obviously everything needs to be tidy but it doesn't have to be beautiful on the wrong side.

I'm very impressed with everything posted so far. I'll be doing single colour interesting texture as usual, per my skill set, though for obvious reasons they don't photograph well.

I started WHing before we could add photos to posts. I think it really makes a difference to see the Hugs coming along in real time, like a knitting club all bringing their WIPs in to pass round. I love this community, and the solidarity and support we share in such measure that there's spare for families we have never even meet.

Morning lovely woollies

Hopefully have replied to all PMs - away over the weekend so lots of catching up to do, yes bookbook re the taupe!

Thank you everyone so much, we still have lovely folk joining us, all still very welcome

Thank you Knotty - my squishy package has arrived this morning 💕

I couldn't find my original gin square pattern so had to make another
So this one is slightly different.

Morning! such lovely squares

I've got some Drops light grey blue left over, is that OK for this one? (I'd say it's a lighter blue but I feel I should check first).

So many lovely squares! 🙂

I haven't started yet, my mother in law has invited herself to stay and I'm feeling incredibly stressed by having her here as she's very difficult and I don't want to feel that way while crocheting for CTK.

Cat in a teacup

That's fab catmad. So bright.

Lovely squares being posted. I can't to see the finished results. Does anyone know if the camper van is/was a VW?

*wait

Morning loves, fabulous squares appearing, just about to arrive with thank yous for our wonderful donors xxx

I love the cat in the teacup!

I've made two squares; one for the memories of when CTK bought her boat, and the other with Zombie the cat (akaSweetie) and a bunny in memory of her love for her pets.

Such a tragic loss; I hope the Woolly Hug can give her family a wee bit of comfort.

bookbook Your taupe will be coming this week, we'd run out and it is one we like to have in just for folk who need a bit, so it will come here first from Wise Badger, sorry for the delay.

If anyone received donor wool, please remember to post on here or message us so we can thank them properl, thank yooooou xxxxx

no problems K&P - I will get on with a texture one in red then :) and some rather neglected bits !

I received some wool yesterday. Thanks ever so much to whoever donated it! I shall get busy tonight.

(BTW DP was most taken aback that I had, seemingly randomly, received such a thing through the post!)

We already have lovely donors to thank.

Honestly your donations mean so much, we always want to be inclusive, for everyone to join in if they would like to, and some folk just wouldn't be able to afford to. Your kind donations make it possible, we really are so grateful. So either your wool has arrived with your crafter or your funds with us and we have sent out for you.

Do remember lovely donors if you would like to send a card to CTK's family, send it to us and we will pass it on, please do write their name on the outside, so it is clear we aren't opening it. Thank you xxx

RarelyInfallible

FM

BanjoPier

NS

CT

cakebaby

HemanOrSheRa

Butterymuffin

IHopeYouStepOnALegoPiece

You are all just amazing, thank you xxx